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Worship Ministry - December 2023

Names of God: Giver

God gives His Son
It’s Christmas time! A wonderful and stressful time of year, when we are all busy with gatherings and filled with worry about what gifts to give our loved ones. It is also that time of year when you are reminded about the “true” reason to celebrate and the great gift that was Jesus Christ! Even though this message can become routine and mundane year after year, this truth is why we rejoice. The remembrance that Jesus Christ came to earth, in the form of man, to save us from our sins should cause us to celebrate.

Giver
We see time and time again, throughout scripture, God giving His people what they need. Whether it was guiding them through the desert, giving strength to the weak, or food to the hungry, God provided and was the sustainer of life. Be encouraged by the Word of God:

• God gives life:
• Job 33:4 - The Spirit of God has made me, And the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
• John 3:36 - For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.
• God gives wisdom:
• James 1:5 - If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and
  without reproach, and it will be given to him.
• Psalm 119:169 - Let my cry come before You, O LORD; Give me understanding according to Your word.
• God gives rest:
• 1 Samuel 17:47 - Then all this assembly shall know that the LORD does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the LORD’S, and He will give you into our hands.
• Deuteronomy 23:14 - For the LORD your God walks in the midst of your camp, to deliver you and give your enemies over to you; therefore your camp shall be holy, that He may see no unclean thing among you, and turn away from you.

• God gives Jesus:
• John 3:16 - For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not
  perish but have everlasting life.

• Isaiah 7:14 - Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.

As we give this holiday season, to the ones we love and to those in need, I hope that we will reflect all the abundance of gifts God has poured on us. Go before Him with thankful hearts, knowing that He has made a way for eternal life through Jesus Christ, the greatest gift.

Love you and mean it!

Lyric of the Month
Joy to the world, the Lord is come
Let Earth receive her King
Let every heart prepare Him room
And Heaven and nature sing

Isaiah 7:14 ESV
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign.
Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Grow & Go - December 2023

I just want to start by saying that I am extremely humbled and thankful to be one of your pastors here at Oakhill leading in Discipleship and Missions.

As many of you who know my wife and I, you will quickly see that we love to spend time with our church family. We love for you to come to our house for a meal, go swimming, hosting life groups, and view our home not just for us, but to do the work of ministry for His Glory, and for the purpose to “advance the gospel” (Phil 1:12). The reason why the desire even exists for the ministry of hospitality is out of the overflow of what Christ has done in our lives. Christ displays the mark for us where we are given, “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mk 10:45).

God through His Word has shown us the ministry of hospitality is of so much importance that He has made it a qualification for Elder (1 Tim 3:2) as they oversee the flock that God has entrusted. Therefore, it is imperative that Elder’s do the work of ministry by shepherding the church and being hospitable. Although, this is not just for church leaders to exhibit. There is not a better place for Christ’s redeemed to show hospitality than in our homes with an open-door mindset where people know that when they are among us, they will be loved and cared for. This is important both within the walls of the church and in the public square.

One place we can look for as an example of the ministry of hospitality is in the New Testament at Priscilla and Aquila. They set the bar for us as Christian husbands and wives
doing the work of hospitality ministry together as a team where the Apostle Paul gives us that “The churches of Asia send you greetings. Priscilla and Aquila, together with the church in their house, send you hearty greetings in the Lord” (1 Cor 16:19). Priscilla and Aquila had been relocated, scattered from Rome, and settled in Corinth, but
they were still absolutely resolved to share Christ and right doctrine with others. This duo used their home not only to share a meal with others, but to make disciples, no matter where they had ended up in their journey, and without excuse. For the believer, many of us can think back to a time when a couple like Priscilla and Aquila opened their homes in hospitality, shared a meal, shared their lives, were transparent and real, and more importantly they shared Christ with you.

We just celebrated Thanksgiving when many of us opened our homes to family and friends over a meal. Let me encourage you for this to be the normal pattern of life and opening your doors to the unchurched, “loving your neighbor as yourself” (Lev 19:18; Mk 12:31) by using our homes as places of ministry pointing people to the gospel, and to the local church. It is fruitful and helpful when we can slow the busy patterns of our lives down, share a meal together, talk candidly about the
struggles of this life, while pointing to hope we have through Christ for eternity. It is also helpful that people see that our lives match up to what we say and there is no more intimate place for this to be witnessed than in our homes.

Let me also encourage those who are leading life groups or are a part of a life group at Oakhill, that being hospitable is key for them to be successful. These are places where real gospel community exists to “grow in the grace and the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Pet 3:18) and for us to be fruitful in this area of ministry requires that we be inviting to those who come to join these groups. Not everyone that comes to our groups will be longtime church members and might even be newer believers, so it is important that we recognize these gatherings to serve Christ by seizing the opportunity to serve others who come.

In closing, the most important reason for hospitality is that it would be an inroad to the gospel. Let the remembrance of what Christ has done in your own life showing you unmerited grace that we did not deserve (Eph 2:8-10) serve as the catalyst to be hospitable. Just as man has a responsibility to respond to the gospel, we also have a responsibility once we have been saved to show hospitality to those who know not Christ, and the hope found in His Word.

• For further reading this week about hospitality also look at these texts – Heb 13:2; 1 Pet 4:9; Rm 12:13; Tit 1:8;
  Lk 14:12-14; Act 28:2; Is 58:7.